The newly reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of NASCAR’s shining jewels.
This prominent speedway has a rich history of giving fans thrilling door-to-door racing from the moment the first green flag dropped.
Perennially voted by professional drivers as one of their favorite tracks, it’s easy to see why drivers and fans love it. But there’s more to this Southern gem than just hosting NASCAR events.
To understand what this world-class facility offers, we asked Brandon Hutchison, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway, to come on the show.
Show Notes
Looking for a specific question in the episode?
We’ve made it easy by providing the questions we asked in the show and where you can find them.
Question #1 – Brandon, you transitioned from Georgia Southern University to the Atlanta Motor Speedway over 27 years ago. How did you start at the track? And are there some NASCAR or Atlanta track moments that stand out in your mind over your career? – 3:26 seconds.
Question #2 – Let’s jump into the new Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) configuration. I can only imagine what goes into a significant track construction project like this one. So, how long did it take, and what went into moving the project from concept to completion? – 6:47 seconds.
Question #3 – Reconfiguring any racetrack is a dicey proposition, especially one as loved by NASCAR drivers like this one. Granted, AMS needed repaving, but what were the goals for the project? – 9:46 seconds.
Question #4 – Outside of the new NASCAR Next Gen race car, the newly configured Atlanta Motor Speedway is undoubtedly the biggest news of 2022. The recent Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 saw 46 lead changes between 20 drivers. In addition, the grandstands had the largest crowd in eight years. Was the overall experience for fans and drivers what you expected? – 11:43 seconds.
Question #5 – Racing technology has extended to the track itself. Can you give us insight into the Open Drainage Layer (ODL) and how it reduces ‘weepers?” – 13:59 seconds.
Question #6 – In 2020, Atlanta Motor Speedway unveiled a new “20 in 20” initiative. The program brought exciting new upgrades to the fan experience. Can you share some of the details and the reception the initiative received? – 16:52 seconds.
Question #7 – The Speedway is a world-class racing facility nationally known for hosting NASCAR events. But the venue offers other family-friendly entertainment opportunities as well. What are the different types of events held there? – 20:16 seconds.
Question #8 – Atlanta Motor Speedway gives back to the local community through Speedway Children’s Charities. Can you tell us more about it? – 23:11 seconds.
Question #9 – Brandon, we’ve covered a lot of ground today, but is there one question we should have asked but didn’t? – 25:06 seconds.
About Atlanta Motor Speedway
Located just south of Atlanta on 850 acres in Hampton, Ga., Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of the country’s premier sports and entertainment facilities. The track made its NASCAR race debut on July 31st, 1960.
At the time it was the seventh superspeedway of one mile or more to host a Cup race. Today this state-of-the-art facility is the venue of choice for close to 1,000 events a year.
For those who enjoy trivia, the opening scenes of the 1980 movie Smokey and the Bandit II were filmed at the track. Also filmed here were scenes of the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the Logan Lucky.
The NBC TV series America’s Got Talent: Extreme which focused on daredevil acts, filmed its first season at the track from September 27 to October 20, 2021.
Atlanta Motor Speedway Information
Address: 1500 Tara Pl, Hampton, GA 30228
Phone: (877) 926-7849
Facebook: @atlmotorspeedway
Twitter: @amsupdates
YouTube: AtlantaMotorSpeedway
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